Children's Scrutiny Panel and other stories...
- By The Difficult Parent
- •
- 06 Apr, 2019
- •
We began blogging on 20th January 2019. Since then, and thanks to the work of the Councillors of both parties, light shined on our plight by The Fairness Commission, the thorough work of the cross-party Children's Scrutiny Panel, the tireless campaigning of Send PACT and the support of local SEND campaigner Marta Gave, there seems to have been some progress...
Update from our blog What is Good Mental Health?
We said
It is difficult to make a contribution to your community when systems are not in place that account for 24/7 care and 9 to 5 working, such as accessing local authority services or attending meetings.
Haringey have invited us and Marta Gave to a meeting on 25th April 2019 regarding engaging the wider parent carer community in Haringey.
Both Marta and The Difficult Parents have asked that this invitation be extended to a wider body of parents and that a meeting of all parent carers needs to be held.
http://www.difficultparent.com/what-is-good-mental-health
It is difficult to make a contribution to your community when systems are not in place that account for 24/7 care and 9 to 5 working, such as accessing local authority services or attending meetings.
Haringey have invited us and Marta Gave to a meeting on 25th April 2019 regarding engaging the wider parent carer community in Haringey.
Both Marta and The Difficult Parents have asked that this invitation be extended to a wider body of parents and that a meeting of all parent carers needs to be held.
http://www.difficultparent.com/what-is-good-mental-health
Update from our blog Haringey has asked us: If you had 15K, which public building in Haringey would you spend it on, and what would you do to it to make the building more accessible for your child?
We asked for
Marta and The Difficult Parents have asked that we are all regularly updated on progress. We have suggested a clearer graphical representation of progress on our 'The Principles of Codesign' pages
www.difficultparent.com/haringey-has-asked-us-if-you-had-15k-which-public-building-in-haringey-would...
- Changing Places Standard Toilets
- Quiet/calm areas where my children could de-sensitise from too much sensory overload when in the leisure centres
Marta and The Difficult Parents have asked that we are all regularly updated on progress. We have suggested a clearer graphical representation of progress on our 'The Principles of Codesign' pages
www.difficultparent.com/haringey-has-asked-us-if-you-had-15k-which-public-building-in-haringey-would...
Update from our blog The Imbalance of Power
We asked
We will be asking these 10 critical questions at our meeting at the end of this month. We have also had the opportunity discussed our experiences with the cross-party Children's Scrutiny Panel, Chaired by Cllr Mahir.
http://www.difficultparent.com/the-imbalance-of-power
- Is the local authority creating the right conditions to ensure successful codesign with parent carers?
- How will the local authority ensure that they are working with parent carers?
- How will the local authority ensure that they are treating all parent carers as equal partners, experts by experience and fellow professionals?
- Are the local authority ensuring that all parents have available to them copies of papers, meeting minutes, agendas well in advance of meetings (at least 5 working days); that the purpose of the meetings or a piece of work is clearly set out at the beginning of a meeting or a piece of work commencing?
- Are the local authority keeping an open mind to all codesign ideas and suggestions from parents? Rather than looking for parents to agree to the local authorities proposals that meet the local authorities needs or asking parents to choose from a limited choice of options that do not meet fully needs?
- How will the local authority ensure that their publicly funded partners, who like the local authority have duties set out by Parliament and written in English Law, also have appropriate open and transparent governance structures with clear lines of report that are adhered to; clear duties, roles and responsibilities?
- How will the local authority ensure that they hear the voice of parents - not the voice of charities speaking on behalf of parents?
- Will the local authority follow their own Principles of Codesign?
- In order to hear the 'right things' will the local authority look outside the 'official forum', in order to develop services that meet the needs of all?
- Will ALL parent carers have the opportunity to be included not just a small self selected group?
We will be asking these 10 critical questions at our meeting at the end of this month. We have also had the opportunity discussed our experiences with the cross-party Children's Scrutiny Panel, Chaired by Cllr Mahir.
http://www.difficultparent.com/the-imbalance-of-power
Update from out blog So... Where is my Blue Badge anyway? Documentation with less threats to vulnerable people and more helpful information is required
Well, we think with a lot of help and support from Cllr Dawn Barnes and Cllr Seema Chandwani, we got our Blue Badge! But what about everyone else? We have heard that some parents are still struggling to get their Blue Badges. One parent took all the required documentation to the Customer Service Desk, she was told she didn't need all of it, so didn't submit it all on the advice of the officer, only to have the paperwork sent back because it was incomplete....
www.difficultparent.com/so-where-is-my-blue-badge-anyway-documentation-with-less-threats-to-vulnerab...
The Councillors of Haringey really have come out in strength over this one! We are delighted to report that we have been told by Cllr Brabazon of the following Blue Badges will be discussed at:
ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY SCRUTINY PANEL
Monday, 8th April, 2019, 6.30 pm - Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22 8LE
Members: Councillors Eldridge Culverwell, Scott Emery, Adam Jogee (Chair), Julia Ogiehor, Reg Rice, Matt White and Barbara Blake Co-optees/Non Voting Members: Ian Sygrave (Haringey Association of Neighbourhood Watches)
https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/documents/g9019/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Apr-2019%2018.30%...
www.difficultparent.com/so-where-is-my-blue-badge-anyway-documentation-with-less-threats-to-vulnerab...
The Councillors of Haringey really have come out in strength over this one! We are delighted to report that we have been told by Cllr Brabazon of the following Blue Badges will be discussed at:
ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY SCRUTINY PANEL
Monday, 8th April, 2019, 6.30 pm - Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22 8LE
Members: Councillors Eldridge Culverwell, Scott Emery, Adam Jogee (Chair), Julia Ogiehor, Reg Rice, Matt White and Barbara Blake Co-optees/Non Voting Members: Ian Sygrave (Haringey Association of Neighbourhood Watches)
https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/documents/g9019/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Apr-2019%2018.30%...
Update on the blog No one wants to "pitch up the need pyramid"
In this blog we revealed the reality of a life that is reliant on the local authority for the delivery of essential services - and the impact that the failure of the systems that support the delivery of those services are having on people who are in need of those essential services.
Along with other parent carers, we have made submissions to the Councillors who sit on the cross-party Children's Scrutiny Panel, Chair: Cllr Mahir.
www.difficultparent.com/no-one-wants-to-pitch-up-the-need-pyramid
Along with other parent carers, we have made submissions to the Councillors who sit on the cross-party Children's Scrutiny Panel, Chair: Cllr Mahir.
www.difficultparent.com/no-one-wants-to-pitch-up-the-need-pyramid
Update on the blog How on earth was that allowed to happen?
In this blog we discussed the difficulties we were having with Home Adaptions managed by Haringey Social Service and funded using a Disabled Facilities Grant.
Flowing that blog, we were contacted by HealthWatch Haringey who said to us "We are just about to start a research project on Haringey’s Aids and Adaptations service which will focus on the process and customer experience; with your agreement we will include your DFG experience as a case study? It is generally recognised that the service is performing very poorly which is primarily the result of the number of OT vacancies in team which is now being addressed through employing an OT agency to deal with the extensive backlog. However, your own experience suggests that there are other process and organisational issues that need to be addressed".
www.difficultparent.com/how-on-earth-did-that-happen
Flowing that blog, we were contacted by HealthWatch Haringey who said to us "We are just about to start a research project on Haringey’s Aids and Adaptations service which will focus on the process and customer experience; with your agreement we will include your DFG experience as a case study? It is generally recognised that the service is performing very poorly which is primarily the result of the number of OT vacancies in team which is now being addressed through employing an OT agency to deal with the extensive backlog. However, your own experience suggests that there are other process and organisational issues that need to be addressed".
www.difficultparent.com/how-on-earth-did-that-happen
Update on the blog Leaves, Leaves, Leaves
In this blog we asked
This vignette illustrates how the cumulative impact of policy changes and changes in service provision can disproportionately impact on people with disabilities. Are Haringey properly considering the cumulative impact of policy changes when they carried out their Equality Impact Assessments?
We were contacted by a number of local councillors, including Cllr Brabazon, who found the blog informative.
www.difficultparent.com/leaves-leaves-leaves
This vignette illustrates how the cumulative impact of policy changes and changes in service provision can disproportionately impact on people with disabilities. Are Haringey properly considering the cumulative impact of policy changes when they carried out their Equality Impact Assessments?
We were contacted by a number of local councillors, including Cllr Brabazon, who found the blog informative.
www.difficultparent.com/leaves-leaves-leaves
Update on the blog 10 Golden Rules of being a Difficult Parent of a child with SEND
This blog was widely supported and shared. It reached 7153 users in 45 counties around the world!
www.difficultparent.com/10-golden-rules-of-being-a-difficult-parent-of-a-child-with-send
www.difficultparent.com/10-golden-rules-of-being-a-difficult-parent-of-a-child-with-send
Updates on the blog Why You said / We did is not 'codesign'
In this blog we asked, again that Haringey SEND Department adopt Haringey's Principles of Codesign.
Alongside Marta Gave, we will continue to push for this to happen in Haringey. We believe this to be in the best interest of the local authority and parent carers. We have been generously offered a meeting with the Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor to discuss this matter.
From the Special Needs Jungle Post SEND inspections: what do Ofsted and CQC inspectors really think? https://specialneedsjungle.com/send-inspections-what-do-inspectors-really-think/
"In particular, a lack of strategic commissioning and joint working, poor quality of EHCPs and lack of coproduction are common weaknesses of failing local areas... ...Some stronger areas are, in contrast, allowing parent co-producers to help drive options being considered, which is what real co-production looks like. How many LAs will have the guts to follow suit?".
http://www.difficultparent.com/why-you-said-we-did-is-not-codesign
Alongside Marta Gave, we will continue to push for this to happen in Haringey. We believe this to be in the best interest of the local authority and parent carers. We have been generously offered a meeting with the Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor to discuss this matter.
From the Special Needs Jungle Post SEND inspections: what do Ofsted and CQC inspectors really think? https://specialneedsjungle.com/send-inspections-what-do-inspectors-really-think/
"In particular, a lack of strategic commissioning and joint working, poor quality of EHCPs and lack of coproduction are common weaknesses of failing local areas... ...Some stronger areas are, in contrast, allowing parent co-producers to help drive options being considered, which is what real co-production looks like. How many LAs will have the guts to follow suit?".
http://www.difficultparent.com/why-you-said-we-did-is-not-codesign
In the blog The Fairness Commission - it's all been said before
In this blog we made the following 10 recommendations:
Working with Send Pact, we delivered these 10 recommendations to the SEND Reforms Group meeting on 27th March 2019. There has been a structure diagram issued about how parent carer views will be fed into Local Authority decision making - it remains to be seen if parent carers will be invited to sit on ALL of the boards.
http://www.difficultparent.com/the-fairness-commission-it-s-all-been-said-before
1.An action
tracker for all SEND Reforms meetings
2.Clear Actions
arising from each SEND Reforms meeting
3.Clear feedback
upward reporting from the SEND Reforms group and actions that then arise from
that
4.Clear and
timely feedback from parents to SEND Reforms
5.Clear and
timely feedback to parents from SEND Reforms
6.Timelines for
delivery of all feedback from parents
7.A clear
project plan at the local authority for feedback from parents
8.All SEND
Reforms minutes online – including historic meetings
9.All SEND
Reforms presentations online – including historic meetings
10.More equitable
distribution of the £15k grant for parental engagement
Working with Send Pact, we delivered these 10 recommendations to the SEND Reforms Group meeting on 27th March 2019. There has been a structure diagram issued about how parent carer views will be fed into Local Authority decision making - it remains to be seen if parent carers will be invited to sit on ALL of the boards.
http://www.difficultparent.com/the-fairness-commission-it-s-all-been-said-before
If you thought SEND was bad - the NHS is seemingly prepared to throw away money to private companies
About 3 or 4 times a year we get the euphemistic message 'Parents please note we have put a letter in your child's bag' - its a world away from how a child's death was handled in my child's first school
More of a trial by ordeal than a well organised clearly set out administrative process for moving the care of vulnerable young adults from Haringey's Children's Services to Adult Services. We have been failed at every stage of the process.
Never EVER get on the bus without a camera running if you need the priority wheelchair space
The reality of using a London Bus in the teeming rain on a Sunday afternoon is no joke when the parents of a paraplegic person in a wheelchair clash with the self-entitled buggy-pushing parents of toddlers.
At 3pm today I received some barefaced lies from Haringey Council Adult Social Care in response to a photograph I published online yesterday and the media interest it generated
Haringey SEND Transport are insisting that a 17 year old minibus with no air conditioning is a suitable vehicle to transport my paraplegic son in this heatwave. The appalling conditions inside the minibus inside the bus is something they knew about last summer, yet they have to date done nothing whatsoever provide a suitable minibus this year nor appropriately mitigate the temperatures inside the minibus.The conditions inside the minibus are so bad that they triggered multiple seizures during the heatwave as my son has epilepsy, which they SEND transport department know about and they also know that they are triggered by heat.It is not just son who is impacted: last year we know of one child who died on Haringey SEND Transport in the summer heatwave and another who had seizures.
I am simply asking a question - are we all absolutely certain that the road closure / travel restrictions (commonly know as LTNs) placed on some of the most severely disabled people who are wholly reliant on cars are absolutely necessary
Haringey's road closures exemptions policy for disabled people is not fit for purpose, unduly burdensome and intrusive - it's time to stand up against the pro-LTN lycra-clad cycling bullies
Is the argument for and against exemptions for disabled people in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods really a case of GOOD versus EVIL?
